West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-05-06
SENATOR FAULKNER.

Mr.. Camden being finally with
drawn. Judge c. J. Faulkner, Of Mar
tinsburg, Was elected Senator on yes
terday. Thegcwas no caucus nomi-
nation, and on tbc first ballot in the
Joint assembly Mr. Faulkner re-
ceived Is votes. Several others were
placed in nomination, but before the
result was announced 4 sufficient
number o. Democrats changed to
Faulkner to give him the election.
Judge Faulkner was elected to the
Bench in this Circuit at the election
in 1880, and for three years past has
always been spoken of as the best
Circuit Judge in the State. He is
about forty years Of age and in point
of native intellect is equal to any.
He has, while on the Bench,ac acquired
the habits of n student and being 4
man of very quick perception he has
it in his power to write his name on
the page of history alongside of Cal
houn, Webster and Clay. He is
young, he has capacity. he has the
opportunity and he has every IN
ducement to patriotic eXertion. 1t
will be recollected that he was one of
among those the Twelve" offered to
support last February, but the Cam
den men refused to accept him, We
presume the railroad lobby will now
claim the credit of giving him the
place, in hopes of being able to
use" him. Mr.. Faulkner is young
but we do not think he will be
caught in this trap. He will be
tempted as very few men have been
tempted. If he has the sagacity we
think he has, the railroad managers
will find themselves greatly mistak
en-, and the cause of the general
public has gained an able advocate.
1t gives Us infinite pleasure to testi-
fy that heis one of the very few men,
prominent in West Va. politics, who
do not hesitate to express in public
what they speak in private. The
true democracy of West Virginia is
entirely satisfied with the result;
and there is debt of gratitude to
those who prevented Mr.. Camden's
reelection that can never be paid.
Governor Wilson is OF opinion
that the Legislature, at this extra
session, did not have jurisdiction to
choose q Senator, and We presume
he will decline to certify Mr.. Faux
nrr's election. When Congress
meets the Senate will be called on
to determine whether he or Mr., Luz
cas- is entitled to the seat. 1t is i'm
possible to predict its decision. The
present outlook is, that after the 4th
of March, ISS9,the Senate will stand
either SO Democrats to 81 Eepubli-
cans, or 80 Republicans to 81 Dem
ocrats one vote will control its
action. The Republicans are conf
dent of being able to carry our next
Legislature and if Lucas be seated
it will elect two Senators. Hence,
it is safe to say that the Republi-
cans will be inclined to seat Lucas.
There is another view to take.
Unless Faulkner gives some asSur-
ance that he will betray the people
in moments of emergency, the rail
road Senators, on the Democratic
side, will prefer Lucas for eighteen
months to Faulkner for six years.
Looking to this contingency,we trust
he has sagacity enough to cOmpre-
bend that if the corporations refuse
to risk him, then it will be absolute
" impossible to elect men to our
next Legislature unless they are
publicly pledged to make him the
Senator, and, if elected under these
circumstances, he will be invineible
in the hearts of the people and his
tenure will be for life.